Apple Accepts Updated MoltenVK-Using App/Game For Vulkan API On iOS

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Apple Accepts Updated MoltenVK-Using App/Game For Vulkan API On iOS

Earlier this month we reported on a game studio finding their MoltenVK-using game rejected from Apple's App Store. Fortunately, that situation is now firmly resolved and Apple has allowed this Vulkan-over-Metal game into their iOS marketplace...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Apple-Lets-In-Updated-MVK-App

[aneeshneelam]

I wonder if something like this is the future of game development: https://github.com/LukasBanana/LLGL
An interface over all the major Graphics APIs.

[cl333r]

I was wondering how they did this. I'm learning Vulkan and it's got a low level and very sophisticated API, how could this possibly be done in Metal without losing like 5% speed?

[OneTimeShot]

I was wondering how they did this. I'm learning Vulkan and it's got a low level and very sophisticated API, how could this possibly be done in Metal without losing like 5% speed?

Vulkan, Metal and DirectX12 are actually fairly similar in design. They are all loosely based on the AMD "Mantle" API.

In any case, a small speed loss often isn't as important as sharing code between platforms. Mobile phones vary widely in GPU horsepower, s software has to deal with it anyway.

[andre30correia]

Look like they realize something, some companies will don't do vulkan for android and port them to metal, ppl I know who use iphone rarely plays games, they only use the default apps

[wizard69]

Vulkan, Metal and DirectX12 are actually fairly similar in design. They are all loosely based on the AMD "Mantle" API.

Im not sure about DirectX here but my understanding is that both Vulkan and Metal derive from Mantle. Im not sure what the actual reasoning for the "Metal" name but supposedly some minor changes creep in. In the end very similar and easy to map across.

It would be nice if somebody had the details.

In any case, a small speed loss often isn't as important as sharing code between platforms. Mobile phones vary widely in GPU horsepower, s software has to deal with it anyway.

mobile phones, iPads, Tv's and on and on. One might even have an advantage with the more widely used API as broader use means proficiency and more hours invested in codeing.

Whatever the case Vulkan is a big win for developers and AMD. With Vulkans success i could see AMD optimizing GPU hardware to better support the API. AMD should be very happy with Vulkans success.

[humbug]

I was wondering how they did this. I'm learning Vulkan and it's got a low level and very sophisticated API, how could this possibly be done in Metal without losing like 5% speed?

I don't think Valve every claimed that they don't lose a bit of speed in the process..

[labyrinth153]

ppl I know who use iphone rarely plays games, they only use the default apps

I don't have the numbers for this but I would be surprised if the most popular game platform in the world isn't iOS.

[geearf]

Vulkan, Metal and DirectX12 are actually fairly similar in design.

Isn't Metal higher level that the other two?

[duby229]

I don't have the numbers for this but I would be surprised if the most popular game platform in the world isn't iOS.

Actually it's android, but that's just a shear numbers thing. Most games for android are just time sinks for most people. It's just that so many "bubble" games, board games, platformers and etc exist that the numbers are overwhelming, but most of those poeple wouldn't call themselves gamers.